S. N

Trace elements

Deficiency symptoms

1.

Iron (Fe)

Deficiency of iron in body affect the formation of hemoglobin. Deficiency in formation of Hb or any interruption of hemoglobin results in anemia. Skin colour may be redden. Decreased growth rate.

2.

Zinc (Zn)

Retarded growth, disorder of bones, skin diseases, disorder of feathers and hair coat, reduced efficiency of feed utilization, delayed sexual maturity, sterility, loss of fertility, parakeratosis (skin disease characterized by sore and itchiness) in pig, cattle, leg abnormality in poultry, stiff and unsteady gait, shortening and thickening of leg bones.

3.

Copper (Cu)

Spontaneous fracture of bones in grazing cattle and sheep, severe ataxia. In sheep deficiency causes a lack of black wooled sheep and characteristic loss of crimp from the fibres of all wool, fibrosis of myocardium, scouring (diarrhea) in cattle, aortic rupture and decreased reproductive capacity and milk production.

4.

Manganese (Mn)

Reduced growth, slightly reduced mineralization, defective structure of bones, decreased reproductive performance in both male and female, perosis in chicken (a disease characterized by enlargement and malformation of tibio-metatarsal joint, twisting and bending of distal end of tibia and the proximal end of tarso-metatarsus, thickening and shortening of leg bones, and slippage of gastrocnemius or Achilles tendon from its condyles)

5.

Iodine (I)

Deficiency is characterized by endemic goitre resulting in cretinism and myxedima. Greatly retards general growth, retarded mental development in young and mental dullness and apathy in both young and old. Myxedima is characterized by dropsy-like swelling specially of the face and hands, slow pulse rate, dryness and wrinkling of the skin, falling of hair and dulling of mental activity.

6.

Cobalt (Co)

Gradual wasting of the animals, with this there develops the usual straggly, rough wool in sheep, severe anemia with complete appetite failure. Total absence of body fat. On other hand, liver becomes fatty.

7.

Molybdenum (Mo)

Over-diet of molybdenum causes teartness known as molybdenum poisoning. Symptoms include extreme diarrhoea, consequent weight losses and decrease in production.

8.

Selenium (Se)

Deficiency is not of concern but poisoning are often seen. Symptoms of selenium poisoning includes dullness and lack of vitality, emaciation and roughness of haircoat, loss of hair, grating of teeth, stiffness of the joints and lameness, paralysis of swallowing and respiratory mechanism.